Health Watch: And the worst-product award goes to

Monday

Oct 29, 2007 at 12:01 AMOct 29, 2007 at 10:07 AM

Weekly health rail, with standing features and news bits, including a scary Halloween story about a drunk.

Consumers International on Monday released its list of worst products of 2007, with the “winner” being sleeping pills for children. The drug Rozerem was advertised specifically for children during a back-to-school campaign, and the ads didn’t include health warnings, according to Consumers International. Other top bad products named by the global consumer group were Dasani water – a Coca-Cola product that essentially is tap water – and Kellogg’s – which use cartoons to promote their sugary cereals.

Another Reason to Control Your Drinking

People riding a train in Germany called police after they discovered a dead man on the train -– or so they thought. It turned out the man was dressed as a blood-covered zombie for Halloween and had passed out from drinking alcohol, Reuters reported. Good thing they realized he was alive before they buried him, or they might really have had a zombie on their hands.

Number to Know: 8 out of 10

An estimate released by Medical Billing Advocates of America on how many hospital bills contain multiple errors. The group urges people to scrutinize their bills no matter how complex they are.

Health Tip: Protect Your Feet from High Heels

It’s generally a good idea to not wear high heels, but if you’re going to wear them, follow these tips compiled by WebMD:

- Get the best-fitting high heel possible. While this may seem like a given, stop and think: How many pairs of high heels cause your feet to slide to the front, leaving a gap big enough for a small cell phone behind your heel? Look for narrow heels with a snug but not tight fit to correct the problem.

- Cushion, cushion, cushion. While a full-shoe insert can help, if you have pain in the ball of the foot -- or you'll be standing in your heels a long time -- invest in silicone metatarsal pads.

- Wear a thicker heel for stability. Alternating heel heights can also help reduce problems with the Achilles tendon.

- Pay attention to the "slope" or "pitch" of the heel. While some 4-inch heels will give you a straight drop down to the flatbed portion of the shoe, others will be a more gradual slope. This may be easier on the arch and might help relieve some pain in the ball of the foot.

- Wear open-toe high heels to relieve pressure on corns and calluses.

Best Ways to Prevent MSRA

According to the CDC, here are some of the best ways to prevent MRSA:

- Wash your hands -- thoroughly. Use soap and water or an alcohol-base hand sanitizer. Experts suggest that you wash your hands for as long as it takes you to recite the alphabet.

- Cover cuts and scrapes with a clean bandage. This will help the wound heal. It will also prevent you from spreading bacteria to other people.

- Do not touch other people's wounds or bandages.

- Do not share personal items like towels or razors. If you use any shared gym equipment, wipe it down before and after you use it. Drying clothes, sheets, and towels in a dryer -- rather than letting them air dry -- helps kill bacteria.

Children’s Health

According to The Associated Press, the American Academy of Pediatrics is pushing to have all children screened for autism twice before they turn 2. There is no cure for autism, but if it’s spotted and treated early, it can be less severe, the group said. Some warning signs include babies not babbling by 9 months, not smiling at Mom or Dad’s voice at 4 months or the loss of social skills at any age.

Senior Health

Researchers say nicotine might be the best defense against Parkinson’s disease, Reuters reported. In tests on monkeys, those given a nicotine drink before drug treatment showed a 50 percent reduction in movements (uncontrollable tremors and twitches) that are associated with the treatment. Researchers long have noticed that smokers tend to have a lower risk of Parkinson’s, and they are trying to figure out what the link might be.